Six ambulances were turned away from Auckland Hospital on Monday night because its emergency department was too full.
The hospital was under so much pressure patients had to be treated in a public space normally used as back up in case of mass injuries such as from a plane crash or earthquake.
Te Whatu Ora Auckland interim director Mike Shepherd said it was rare to have to divert ambulances.
Those that could not go to Auckland were sent to North Shore and Middlemore hospitals instead.
Patients who needed care that could only be offered at Auckland Hospital were still accepted, he said.
An emergency specialist at the hospital and member of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Amanda Rosenberg, said there was no physical space left in the ED on Monday, even every bit of corridor space was being used.
The overflow area that was opened was in the atrium of the main building and was normally a public recreational space but was instead used for ambulance patients still on the stretchers they came in on.
There was no privacy, she said.
"They're already quite frightened that they've had to call an ambulance to come to hospital I would imagine. And then being shunted into a space that's not really designed to care for patients on a regular basis must be even more frightening," she said.
Many waited several hours to get into the department and the ambulance officers had to stay with them, meaning they could not attend other emergencies, she said.
The situation in the hospital ED on Monday had been building for a while.
The hospital was so full, patients who needed a ward bed could not be admitted straight away and took up space in the emergency department.
Some were waiting there two and a half days, she said.
One day last week there were only four beds in the department that could be used for emergency patients, she said.
College of Emergency Medicine New Zealand chair Kate Allan said the situation was not unique to Auckland — there were extremely full hospitals all over the country.
With this level of pressure already, she and her colleagues worried about what the winter peak would bring.
Shepherd said the ED was now returning to normal levels.
He wanted to assure anyone who needed care that they would get it.
Operations have been postponed at Dunedin Hospital because of staff shortages and a busy Emergency Department, it emerged yesterday.
The hospital warned about how busy it was, and apologised to patients who had to wait for care.
There were large numbers of people coming to the Emergency Department as well as staff illness and vacancies, it said.
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Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.5% Yes
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14.8% No
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2.8% Other - I'll share below
The Story of Tahu and the Sacred Visitor - Day 10
In a small kāinga (village) nestled by the ngahere (forest), lived an elderly woman named Tahu. She was a simple kuia (elder), devoted to the atua and known for her aroha (love and compassion). Though she lived humbly, Tahu’s heart was rich with kindness and her hands were always busy caring for others in her community.
One night, Tahu had a vision during her karakia (prayers). The atua spoke to her, saying that a great rangatira (chief) on a sacred journey would one day visit her home. This visitor would be a symbol of mana (prestige) and the spirit of aroha. Tahu woke with a sense of purpose and spent her days preparing for this rangatira’s arrival.
She tidied her whare (home) and tended to her māra (garden), ensuring everything was in perfect condition. Each day, she gathered the freshest kumara and sweetest berries from the ngahere, tasting them carefully to ensure they were fit for her guest. Although her people sometimes laughed at her efforts, saying, “Tahu, why prepare so much for someone who might never come?” she remained steadfast in her devotion.
One day, the great rangatira, Tāwhirimātea, arrived at her humble whare with his companion. Tahu’s heart swelled with joy as she welcomed them, offering water and the food she had so carefully prepared.
However, one of Tāwhirimātea’s companions noticed Tahu tasting the berries before offering them. He frowned and whispered, “It is disrespectful to offer food that has already been tasted.”
But Tāwhirimātea smiled and replied, “You judge her actions, but I understand her intentions. Tahu is not tasting out of disrespect—she is ensuring that only the sweetest and best berries are served. It is her aroha that makes this kai truly sacred.” He ate the berries with gratitude, blessing Tahu for her kindness.
The atua smiled upon Tahu, and the mana of her aroha inspired her whānau to live with the same compassion and care for others.
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Moral of the Story
This story teaches that acts of aroha (love and compassion), no matter how humble, hold the greatest mana. True kindness is not measured by wealth or grandeur but by the heart and intention behind our actions. Like Tahu, we are reminded to serve others with sincerity and respect, knowing that aroha strengthens the bonds of whānau and community.
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